Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-induced apoptosis involves Bax/Bid-dependent mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), cytochrome c and Smac/DIABLO.

(1) Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) is a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) antagonist, which is able to induce apoptosis in tumor cells independently of PPAR-gamma in caspase-dependent and -independent manners. Additionally, BADGE promotes TRAIL-induced apoptosis. (2) We report that BADGE activates via Bax and caspases-2 and -8 both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways using Bid as a shunt. (3) BADGE stimulates the mitochondrial release of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), cytochrome c and second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase/direct IAP-binding protein with low pl (Smac/DIABLO). The release of cytochrome c could not be blocked by inhibitors of caspases-3, -8 and -9 indicating that BADGE acts upstream of caspases-3 and -9 and does not involve caspase-8 to release cytochrome c. (4) While the caspase-independent apoptotic effect might be mediated by AIF, the sensitizing effect of BADGE against other apoptotic substances is most likely mediated by the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis inhibitor Smac/DIABLO. (5) Our data suggest that BADGE or BADGE derivatives could represent promising substances for the treatment of neoplasms improving the antitumoral activity of TRAIL.

Programmed cell death protein 4 (PDCD4) acts as a tumor suppressor in neuroendocrine tumor cells.

PDCD4 is a new tumor suppressor gene. In the current study, we show that overexpression of PDCD4 in carcinoid cells results in inhibition of cell proliferation. This is most likely caused by a PDCD4-induced downregulation of carbonic anhydrase type II which catalyzes the production of bicarbonate, a fundamental substrate for many cellular pathways.

Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether induces apoptosis in tumour cells independently of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, in caspase-dependent and -independent manners.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear transcription factors which are involved in many biological processes, such as regulation of cell differentiation, lipid metabolism, inflammation and cell death. PPARs consist of three families, PPAR-alpha, PPAR-delta and PPAR-gamma. Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) has been described as a pure antagonist of PPAR-gamma. However, recent data also revealed PPAR-gamma-agonistic activities of BADGE. Here we show that BADGE kills transformed cells by apoptosis and promotes the cytotoxic effects of tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and indomethacin. The cytotoxic effect of BADGE does not require PPAR-gamma expression and is mediated in caspase-dependent and caspase-independent manners.

DUG is a novel homologue of translation initiation factor 4G that binds eIF4A.

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cell death, we have cloned a new gene, designated death-upregulated gene (DUG), from rat insulinoma cells. DUG is constitutively expressed at very low levels in normal cells but is dramatically upregulated in apoptotic cells following serum/glucose starvation or death receptor ligation by Fas ligand. The DUG mRNA is present in two splicing forms: a long form that encodes a protein of 469 amino acids and a short form that gives rise to a polypeptide of 432 amino acids. The predicted DUG protein sequence contains two putative nuclear localization signals and multiple phosphorylation sites for protein kinases and two conserved MA3 domains. Importantly, DUG is homologous to eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF) 4G and binds to eIF4A presumably through MA3 domains. Upon transfection, DUG inhibits both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of apoptosis. Thus, DUG is a novel homologue of eIF4G that regulates apoptosis.